Amy Echeverria is the Columban Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and President of the Board of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM).
Pope Francis and Cardinal Tagle of Philippines meet with the GCCM Board and staff at the Vatican on the occasion of the GCCM's 5th Anniversary. (Amy Echeverria is standing next to Cardinal Tagle). Photo: Global Catholic Climate Movement
"Be maternal, be tender, this is what the world needs”. These were the words Pope Francis spoke to the GCCM Board of Directors and staff during a meeting on February 27, 2020 at the Vatican. The meeting was arranged for the occasion of the fifth anniversary of GCCM’s founding and the fifth anniversary of the release of the Pope's Encyclical 'Laudato Si’.
The private audience of ten people included Cardinal Luis Tagle, who serves on GCCM’s Episcopal Advisory Board and has been a GCCM champion since its launch during Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines in January 2015.
We had an hour-long conversation about the state of the world, the story of the birth of the Encyclical 'Laudato Si’, and Pope Francis’ own personal eco-conversion journey.
As Board President, it was my honour to open our conversation with Pope Francis. I began by introducing myself as a Columban co-worker and a mother, saying that these are my life’s reference points.
I continued by sharing that I had received a message that morning from a Columban in Australia who wrote: “We have begun Lent and we see the small buds emerging from the trees and ashes of the tragic bushfires in Australia – there are signs of new life.” I noted that this was a timely message as our audience with Pope Francis was on the second day of Lent and a good metaphor for the birth of GCCM five years earlier.
After Pope Francis invited each person in the room to share their stories, he offered his own reflections, which I found most encouraging. Firstly, he commented on the work of GCCM, all its member organisations, and the Church in bringing 'Laudato Si’ to life. He affirmed that the task of creating, nurturing, connecting and listening is work we all share in the care for our common home. And in our care, there is a tenderness and compassion that counters the violence and the ashes of our time.
He continued by sharing, in a beautifully interwoven way, the birth of 'Laudato Si’ and his own personal conversion towards an ecospirituality. He took us back to Aparecida in 2007, where Latin America’s bishops had been meeting and the drafting of the final document. When reviewing the text, he acknowledged his doubts about including language that was put forward by the Brazilian bishops about hearing the cry of the Amazon, but in the end, he agreed with its inclusion. He noted that it was not until he arrived in Rome that the urgency became clear to him from listening to his advisors, scientists, and theologians. He said the development of 'Laudato Si’ was a collaborative work of many people and the result of hearing the cries of the people and the earth.
I was encouraged by the way he allowed himself to be vulnerable to us. It became clear that when he calls us in 'Laudato Si’ to ongoing “ecological conversion” he includes himself in that journey.
On a humorous note, he added that, “in our next meeting, the Cardinals will be in Cardinal green instead of Cardinal red”. While light-hearted in tone, I do believe it is an insight into his hope that the Church will find ways in symbol and substance to integrate more deeply a theology, spirituality, liturgy, practices, and pastoral care that are rooted in the common good for all of creation.
After everyone spoke, we concluded by standing in a circle and praying the Our Father - the most unifying and rooting prayer of our faith.
Finally, after an exchange of gifts, Pope Francis invited us to gather in the private passageway that leads to the reception hall. There he showed us a stunning tapestry of God giving birth to humanity and all the universe. He said that every time he passes it on his way to the reception hall, he proclaims in his heart, 'Laudato Si’.On that note, we said our goodbyes, offered final prayers and gratitude.
Pope Francis offers a parting blessing and encouragement for the mission of bringing Laudato Si' to life. Photo: Global Catholic Climate Movement
I continue to reflect on Pope Francis’ message, particularly in the context of our GCCM story. I found his words to be a good reminder of the power of tenderness. I pray that throughout this fifth anniversary year and beyond, that we will continue to live into the invitation to be maternal and tender, which is another way of expressing the call to deep transformative love for all of Creation.
Amy Echeverria is the Central Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Coordinator, based in the United States.
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is a network of over 900 member organisations. The Columbans were founder members. The GCCM is inspired by 'Laudato Si' and has three dimensions to its mission:
- Accompany hearts in their journey of ecological conversion.
- Transform lives towards right relationships with all of Creation.
- Lift up voices – the cry of the people and the cry of the Earth. And then create public space so that they may be heard to prompt structural change.
www.catholicclimatemovement.global
Listen to "Sharing the vision of Pope Francis"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East, August 2020
